Alice's+letter

August 13th 1865

Dear family, My trip back home was very scary, you might have read in the paper that a steamboat named Sultana broke down and many people died going back home from the war. Well I was on it and before you get scared I just wanted to say I’m safe.

It was probably the scariest thing I have ever experienced in my life. There were burning hot coals coming right to your face, and you heard loud bangs meet your ears everywhere you caught sight of, everywhere had flames of fire and my heart was beating so fast I couldn’t catch up with it. I was one of the few survivors. But I have just one leg and I broke my arm by a rock falling straight down into the water and crashing right on to my wrist. I am in the hospital and the doctor said I will be out by one week but I am fine but I will be in cruches for all my life now.

Some other people are with me in the hospital that I have got to know and they are leaving the hospital about the same time as me and they need to get home so we are all walking together when we get out of the hospital. But it is going to take about one and a half months to get back to Perlington. I am very sad to say this but your two uncles died when they were aboard the ship one drowned and the other died by a severe injury a day ago. But I am glad to say that I’m safe and I’ll see you in about two months.

Sincerely, Johnny

Dear Johnny,

I am so sad that that terrible thing happened to you. I am so glad you are alive. I was so worried when I read the letter. Right after I read the letter I told the kids that you were on the boat that exploded that was in the newspaper.

Was it very scary to see all those people die and get hurt? Did you know that there was to many people? What did you think when all of that was happening were you stunned or were you thinking you were going to die? Do you want me to see if I can get you a new leg? Will you also have a wheel chair? How did you swim to the shore with only one leg and a broken arm? Did you get help or did you do the impossible by swimming with one leg and a broken arm?

I am going to try my best to get you a faster way of getting you home than walking. I will try to get you a train so you can come home quickly. I told the kids that you won't have a leg and will have a broken arm. I can't believe that both my uncles died. Which one died of the severe injury bob or joe? The kids and I can't wait to see you.

Sincerely, Chelsey